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This is my '87 vert'
I am, at least the third owner, if not more.
The person I bought it from bought it for his 16-17 year old son to go to back and forth to high school and football practice.
The person before him had bought it for his wife and had several other vehicles (ie: 57 Cevy, Camaro, etc) and are neighbors to the previous owner.
I have received some paperwork of maintenance performed in the past with recommendations.
Most of the recommendations, so far to my knowledge, have been ignored. This is why I will call it "sins of the past".
I will correct them as I find them.
My dash is quite colorful with the Brake light and ABS light on, as well as the low coolant light.
One of the receipts said that the both rear wheel bearings had play and the rear spring was missing bushings.
This was found 4 years and over 10,000 miles ago. Nothing had been done to correct either one of these.
I saw the 4 outer spring bushings, I was about to find out about the inner ones.
The rear leaf spring was an aftermarket spring. The center mounted rubber bushings had came apart.
When this happened the bushings fell out as well of the center carrier.
For 4 years, at least, the rear leaf spring was bouncing around. Isn't that special?
A rear spring with shims/mounts was purchased from Dino's Corvette Salvage in Picayune, MS for $200 last night.
The rear brake pads were replaced by the previous owner, and he told me after that the brake light has been on ever since.
The brake pads are virtually new. It would of been nice to notice the inside of the rotors were/are too thin for the rotor to be kept.
The ABS sensors, being basically magnets, has done a fantastic job of attracting the small pieces of the rear wheel bearings.
Wouldn't want to litter the roads with some small metal pieces, wait - did that wth the shims for the spring - sorry.
New rotors and wheel bearings are waiting to be installed. The Driver's rear Caliper needs to rebuilt as well.
I do not know how much damage was done by the vise grip on the flexible brake hose, but it did leave a lasting impression.
I am probably going to get braided lines - I have them on my firebirds. Performance cars should come with these from the factory (IMO).
The convertible top needed to be replaced, some time ago. In fact, when I purchased the car I was given a new top still in the box.
The weather stripping around the side windows shows the wear of a 31 year old convertible/car. After removing the Bose speaker housing, you can see the flood lines in the compartments behind the driver's seat. The ABS motor has been submerged a few times.
The top will be done correctly. The rust and worn bushings will be replaced as well as the frame repainted prior to that new top being put on.
I have found a Hardtop (in the first pic) to keep the wet out of the car until the new soft top is restored.
While things are taken apart I noticed the rear axle leaking from the cover and pinion seal.
I am this deep so far. The control arm and cam rod bushings show the wear of a 31 year old car as well.
When removing the exhaust in order to remove the axle, the exhaust is not structurally sound.
The mufflers would of fallen off in a few months
Hope you don’t get too far upside down in the car. They can def be money pits.
$6500 for the car
$250 for the rotors and wheel bearings
$200 for the Spring and stuff
$135 for the braided brake lines
$48 to rebuild the calipers (all 4)
$??? for the bushing kit that fits
$??? for the exhaust
I will guess $1K , but consider......
That is exhaust, rear suspension and 3/4 of the entire brake system.
I am learning as I go. This site and its members are a great help to me.
I do my own labor, so that keeps the cost down
There are a handful of mechanics I trust enough to work on any of my vehicles.
I am sort of enjoying learning new stuff.
On third gen Firebirds, i am sort of an expert. Things can get routine.
A little work don't worry me a bit.
If i get done with this car around $10K total - I am about where I thought I would be.
Nice looking car, and I second the Corsa! I always get asked what system it is after people hear it run.
Thank You, The Garnet Red Metallic against the Tan interior really sets it off, I think.
As far as a $1100+ exhaust system, hmmmmm hmmmm ???????
I have yet to find a correct fitting bushing kit for the car.
I am almost afraid to look at the front half, at least until I am done with the back half.
Right now the rear axle is apart, putting new seals (pinion,output and rear cover gasket) in.
BTW: why didn't GM put a drain plug in???
I will fix that oversight!!
1. Get the suspension/rear axle back in
2. Get the brakes rebuilt and reinstalled
3. Get the car on all fours - just long enough to look at the front.
4. Pray that it wont be as expensive as the back half !!!!!!
Sorry but my phone has problems talking to my computer, it is like they are in a relationship.
So there are no pics as of yet.
If my phone and computer come to an understanding - pics will come.
I would like to hank all on this site for their advice that they have given and to other's experiences in the past that have helped me troubleshoot my car quicker and more accurately
Now to the car:
The entire rear suspension and differential was pulled.
Bushings, Bearings, Brake lines, U-joints and a driveshaft was replaced.
The front suspension had the driver's upper and lower ball joints replaced and the brake lines were replaced on both sides.
The Calipers are now a nice glossy red if you could see them through the rims
I was told that the suspension looked like brand new - I responded that it did not look that good when it was new.
I am having just the mufflers replaced - the pipes are fine. A local shop will take care of that for me.
The rims were increased to 17" '89 vette rims (i think '89) . using the spacers from hubcentric.
I have uniroyal Tiger Paw GTZ's on it now.
Bypassed (removed) the anti lock from the car.
Replaced the distributor and wires
Installed the air pump bypass pulley - not too fond of the look, but it is functional
Also have a hardtop for it.
Working on the paint right now - dealing with the 4-5 different paint jobs this car has had prior.
The car will go back to its original color.
I am not disenchanted with this car yet. I remind myself that this is a 32 year old car. It will be my daily driver.
It will go into a garage, if i ever get one. A friend of mine told me recently that a car with less mileage on it is a better car because of that.
I disagree, I have a '91 GTA with 54K on it and I had to remove the engine with a connecting rod snapped in half.
Less mileage and newer model does not necessarily mean it is better, in my opinion,
The way I see it even $10k C4's need a lot of what you're doing. Those suspensions are crap on those as well, regardless of miles or how the rest of the car looks. The stuff is 30-ish years old. lol
I can't beleive 4 years have past!
Bought a house and moved. Went through a hurricane, 6 months later - all fixed now.
Lost someone I thought was my friend over this car. Got it out of his shop mostly in one piece.
Anyway - She looks good. Was supposed to go to "Cruise the Coast" in Mississippi - car was done
But, some issues popped up. Finally drove it to a cruise night locally. The last one of the season.
Now have vibration and oil pressure issues.
Can't really go over 60 mph.
Oil pressure goes lower as the engine gets warmer.
I am not worried about what is going to break next, replaced most of it !!
I can't beleive 4 years have past!
Bought a house and moved. Went through a hurricane, 6 months later - all fixed now.
Lost someone I thought was my friend over this car. Got it out of his shop mostly in one piece.
Anyway - She looks good. Was supposed to go to "Cruise the Coast" in Mississippi - car was done
But, some issues popped up. Finally drove it to a cruise night locally. The last one of the season.
Now have vibration and oil pressure issues.
Can't really go over 60 mph.
Oil pressure goes lower as the engine gets warmer.
I am not worried about what is going to break next, replaced most of it !!
11-22-2018, 01:28 PM
hmmmm ???????
Those suspensions are crap on those as well, regardless of miles or how the rest of the car looks. The stuff is 30-ish years old. lol
